Business Development Officer - National Post

Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty.

Oxfam is a global movement of people who won’t live with the injustice of poverty. Together we save and rebuild lives in disasters. We help people build better lives for themselves. We speak out on the big issues that keep people poor, like inequality, discrimination against women and climate change. And we won’t stop until every person on the planet can live without poverty.

All our work is led by three core values:

Empowerment. Everyone, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen.

Accountability. We take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions.

 Inclusiveness. We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

DFAT is an Australian funded project being implemented in three geographical areas in Lebanon (Bekaa, Mount Lebanon and Tripoli). The Project’s objective is to contribute to the economic self-reliance and resilience of 10,680 individuals affected by the Syrian Crisis, including 8% at risk women, and 8% of people living with disabilities, in the Mount Lebanon, North Lebanon and Beqaa Governorates through livelihoods activities and protection mainstreaming. The BDS officer would also be asked to support on other project activities under the EJ pillar.

This will be achieved working on a quality outreach in the area of intervention to identify both businesses and individuals in need of livelihood support. Furthermore, the BDS officer will need to support both the consultants conducting the coaching for the businesses and the livelihoods officer in their daily tasks. Lastly, he/she will have to liaise with the project manager on drafting reports and conducting administrative tasks.

The Project Affiliate for this project is Oxfam Australia and comprises a consortium of two INGOs (Oxfam and Care in Lebanon) and two local NGOs (Makhzoumi Foundation and LUPD). Oxfam Lebanon is the lead agency in charge of implementation in country.

To plan, organize and implement field activities and office work of the DFAT supported project that is part of a Consortium led by Oxfam, with Care, Makhzoumi Foundation and LUPD as partners of the consortium.

The post-holder is expected to work closely with the Economic Justice programme team and the Oxfam Policy team towards common objectives.

Core Details

Location:                     Bekaa

Internal Grade:            D1

Contract type:             Fixed Term 1 Year, renewable based on availability of funds and performance

This role reports to:     Livelihoods Project Manager

Staff reporting to this post:      Livelihoods Officer

Annual budget:                     None

Screening checks:      This role is subject to appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.

Key Responsibiilties

Technical

• Support the implementation of project activities as per set work plan and in accordance with donor regulations and Oxfam’s internal quality benchmarks;

• Conduct rapid qualitative Business Development Services (BDS) market assessments;
• Conduct outreach in target communities to ensure that the community and especially potential MSME beneficiaries are well-informed about project objectives and activities and on how to apply;
• Compile roster of qualified mentors and experts who will be hired to provide specialized counselling to entrepreneurs and target MSMEs;
• Identify vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian individuals to be placed in the apprenticeship program.
• Liaise with assigned coaches and contribute to the regular monitoring of their performance;
• Ensure the quality implementation of various forms of support to MSMEs and individuals, regularly communicate challenges and areas of improvement, and proactively seek out solutions with project team;
• Assist in linking supported enterprises to suitable suppliers, clients, and investor networks as well as support in the organizing events and meetings between different parties as needed;
• Carry out regular monitoring field visits to project locations and to target enterprises and individuals
• Participate in the Project Quality meetings to promote best practices and their application to the projects.
• Support in any MEAL activities required at field and office level
• Manage and report any complaints or feedback received using Oxfam’s tools and processes

Coordination and representation

• Attend Livelihoods/Social Stability/Basic Assistance external working groups and meetings on a regular basis and share any information relevant to the context/sector
• Attend internal meetings in Bekaa and in Beirut related to the projects under which the Livelihoods activities are implemented, and provide update when necessary
• Attend trainings, workshops, roundtables, etc. on topics related to the projects as needed
• Represent Oxfam as required
• Coordinate with and support consortium partners at field level
• Support Policy/MEAL/Funding, etc when they visit the field
• Support in the organization of field visits (internal and external)

Management

• Support and manage the Livelihoods officer in their daily tasks
• Ensure the Livelihoods officer is supported and develops their full potential

Reporting and contractual compliance

• Support the project manager with any internal and external reporting in a timely manner
• Ensure regular, proper and timely project documentation
• Share relevant information to relevant program and support teams (Economic Justice team, Policy Adviser, Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning Coordinator, Advocacy and Media team, etc..)

Other

• Required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women's rights
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles

Essential

• A Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline such as economics or development or equivalent experience
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in implementation of donor-funded livelihoods projects and experience conducting market mapping exercises or research
• Understanding and knowledge of economic development and recovery principles in an urban and rural context
• Good knowledge of project monitoring systems to track the effectiveness of programmes and an ability to maintain cooperative, professional relationships with donors, partners and peer organisations.
• Commitment to equal opportunity and gender policies.
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills
• Proven ability to work independently as required.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Sympathy with the aims and Objectives of Oxfam.

Desirable

• Master’s degree in relevant area (e.g. economics, development studies, political science)
• Experience in working on project implementation jointly with local organisations as implementing partners
• Experience in internal and external capacity building.
• Specific experience in business development services

Key Attributes

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible

Organisational Values

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions
• Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen
• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences

At Oxfam, our job descriptions provide a guide to what might be expected in the role. Along with our strategy the job profile is used to help to shape specific objectives for employees. Employees are supported to deliver these objectives and they are annually assessed against them as part of the Oxfam performance review process. This job profile is not incorporated into the employment contract.